ARCHITECTURE OF MOTHS. 91 



naked ; and, like man, are capable of covering them- 

 selves, thus contradicting the Doctor's theory. Nay, 

 these larvae, which man in general looks upon with 

 contempt, are endowed with ingenuity in some re- 

 spects superior to his own ; for the moment they 

 have inhaled the breath of life, they prepare to cover 

 themselves, and this they effect in a manner more 

 consonant to their condition, than the dress of savage 

 man is to his state. The shape of the habiliments 

 of larvae consists usually of a cylindrical tube, open 

 at both ends. These arc woven from wool or hair, 

 ingeniously cut down by the larva of the Tinea, 

 which is compactly incorporated with silk drawn 

 from their mouths, generally made more comfortable 

 and suitable to their tender skin by a lining of the 

 softest silky texture. 



CASE OF THE CLOTHES MOTH, {Thica pdlionella.) 



These they wear from infancy to maturity ; wisely 

 disregarding change of fashion, while they have com- 

 fortable and convenient coverings. They, no doubt, 

 require to be enlarged as the animal increases in 

 bulk ; and this they accomplish with the greatest 

 dexterity and accuracy. To lengthen their covering 

 is an easy matter, by adding a ring of hair or wool 

 to each end; but when too narrow, the task is 



